Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-06-14
ruE RIGHTS OF rARMERs' WIVES

Iheari a story The other day TIA, start
"a my pen. I was taking with the vile
% . successful farmer on the above sub
jsci. when she said
"fOr AL that farmers wives share 30
much of The farms responsibilities, many
of them have no Acknowledged rights 0n
The fsru. They slave In the Interest OF the
farm and family. bat the plans waleh
govern everything are dietsiei by The
farmer.
"Ii was 80 Ia our own hons until a few
years ago. when rcsOried 20 novel wsy
lor obtaining my rights. From my mar
rlage I took an active interest In AL oar
farm matters. helped n milk. made
butter, assisted In caring for the young
anlmsls, and cared FOR the poultry. To-
deed gave my whole energies 10 making
our homo pleasant aud The farm prosper
Gus.
"Dut my husband dli al the managing.
I was sometimes struck with The Injustice
ol this. when some gooi suggestion OF
mine WAS treated ~ though u had no
worth. Finally. my husband built q large,
new barn. The hOrsts, cows, sheep Ani
hogs were AL provided with comfortable
quarters. while miserable oh shed was
the only place for my fowls. The poultry
not only supplied me with pin money,
but were great pleasure 10 me. Aside
from The proft, the delight they gave me
fully repaid for all my work.
"Dut nv husband dsllked fowls. lie
said they were flthy. destructive hlng-,
and considered them = nuisance Ani
when The new barn was buNt he SAID
Now ihOse heus have ~ be kept %.
Will not have than In that barn
80 thcy were connnei In The old shed,
which stood In an out-Ofthe.wsy place Al
Tie rear % The barn. could not see or
feed my fowls without taking that long
walk, anil my hens were no longer nut
ful a. when allowed 10 run. The Injustice
olthls requirement Impressed Itself with
great force on my mind, Aui resolved, II
possible, % get jus,lnciiion' 80 ~
meeting of The grsugc, OF ~hieh my
husband was an active member, present.
81 he whole case; spoke or my lapors Ia
behalf % the farm. aud asked II TIE subject
could NJ, bs diseased before The meeting,
and would abide by The decision ot ihs
grange. a. ~ whether II wAs due me ihat
my poultry should be well sheltered Ani
permitted % run.
TO my surprise The greatest Interest
was manifested The slhjcci Vas wei
diseased. And 10 was voted that
should have The right OF managing my
foNls. that Il was due me for iaem - re-
celyc last A. good care A. my husoAnis
horses ani cows.
"My hussAni. Ike any sensible, list
man. ablted BY The declsloa. Moreover,
the discussion hai the hsppy ,feci ~
- AW.N a /
have hat recognized right In mAuy
things where my voice bal no power De-
fore"
In no other oecupai!on OF men Are
women - directly concerned a. Ia fArm-
log. Iniecj. awcll.appoiuiet, prosperous
farm il almos. al impossiblliv wlihoai
the hsip ~ an Interested woman. Ia 50
mauy ways she advances the farm's ln'er.
e.ts She cooks ior the hirci help, Ani
prevents waste In 80 much OF The pfoiacs'
The fruit. poultry AMI eggs Win "hieh
the table i supplied. are oiien ihc Icsull
OF her ihrifl The dairy proinets OF
Americas farms are s,apentoas. Bai II
4. the farmers wife who attend. 10 The
mnk ani makes the batter, adding 80
much 10 The yearly income of he ianly'
I once knew fArmer's wife. Who, In
The rush % harvesting when help was
scarce. moauied the reaper, Aai hMVesi'
ed al her husbands grain. can recall
number OF instances where wives cams 20
the rescue 10 such busy seasons, ami
heipc,i thclr husbands oai ot ihelrdlmenlV.
50 iho fArmer's wife II not only msifl'
moula partner. but l. really partner in
bis business. IL l. unjust then That The
plans which govern The home Ani ia sur
rounilngs should be exclusively TIE
wishes ~ The farmer; while her desires
Ar treated A. OF little importance.
lfthe proceeds ffom the farm are speui
in purchasing labo.-sAying machinery Tor
the farmer, Il should be spent In buying
the sane for his wife. II money l. spent
In improving the barn and stock, II should
also De speui lu making TIE home pleasant
and convenient
This plan OF natal rights ani mutual
benefits from ihe earnings, could but rc-
sult In much good and satisfaction 10 both
husband and wife.
I once knew OF farmer who hal hae
farm OF zoo acres. But he was not salts
rei. he wanted 600 acres. lie said that
when be 20, that amount OF land Ne would
then spend money In nKlug up the hone.
They have lived lu An old, inconVcnieni
house. The wife worked amidst every
bat not dollar could 20
for comfort until the 900 acres were
bought. The Increasing land brought adj
diilonAl labor % the wife. She had 10
work hard and suffer every privailon, that
her husband might b. the owner OF macy
broad acres. Finally, the land was
bought, bat AZ about the same time there
was funeral In the house. And the poor
oyerwOrked wife never knew any OF the
comforts which were rightfHlly hers.
NEiLIE BURNS.